I've recently started thinking about how to realize a project of mine and it involves spending roughly a year living without an incoming income. It occurred to me that it would be silly to try to save up enough money to pursue my goal while living here in Vancouver after considering the relatively high cost of living.
What I'm thinking is that since I can work on this project from pretty much anywhere in the world, and since I've always wanted to spend some time living abroad, then I might as well go find a cheap place to live so that $10,000+ savings could sustain me for a year rather than the 5 or 6 months it would last in my current situation.
I've done a bit of research and have a few places in mind already, but thought I'd open it up to the community to see if any suggestions jump out at me. India, SE Asia, and Eastern Europe all appeal to me and have (what I imagine to be) lower costs of living. I'd love to be able to pay under $300 (CAD/USD) per month for an apartment and a nice bonus would be easy long term visas for someone who won't be working in the country. I could always claim an income from web design if need be.
So, if you were looking to live on the cheap for a year, where would it be and why would you choose that city?
I'm not looking for other people to do my research for me, just wondering if there are any little gems of towns that BnA'ers dream about spending some time in.
Just out of curiosity, what is the current cost of living like in Germany?
anywhere in South East Asia would be very cheap along with certain areas in Bolivia and Peru, im paying $50 a month for an apartment here in Ecuador which is nice and cheap :)
Wow! $50 / month for rent?! That's crazy! Ecuador here I come.
I think I would choose Costa Rica. Cheap, people are friendly, and plenty to do.
It's not exactly cheap, but if I had a year to spend abroad I would definitely choose Barcelona! I studied abroad there and absolutely loved it!
Yeah me too! :)
if i was going to live on the cheap, i guess i would choose thailand. very cheap to live there and still enjoy a comfortable lifestyle
Where exactly in Thailand would you live?
I agree with the above posts regarding a beach in Thailand. Phuket might be a good choice since it has it all - i.e. tourist areas when you want to speak English, along with more remote places where you can live among the locals.
In central America, I would also recommend either Guatemala or Honduras. The people are amazing and they're both beautiful places.
If you're looking to live on the cheap though, regardless of where you go, you'll find cheaper accommodation and food outside of the tourist areas. Check that there is internet access though (which I'm assuming you will need) since often it is only in the tourist areas, depending on how remote you are.
Let us know what you decide. What a great opportunity!
500 Reasons I Love Germany http://ilovegermany500.blogspot.com/
Living as an Expat in Germany http://lr-expatgermany.blogspot.com/